AP File PhotoA player accelerates across FieldTurf during a girls lacrosse team practice on the artificial field at Immaculata High School in Somerville, N.J.

Weeks before the work was slated for completion, a state Superior Court judge today suspended installation of an artificial turf field at Hackettstown High School.

A competing turf company sued the school district and its contractor, Austin, Texas-based Hellas Construction Inc., alleging the district failed to advertise for bids on the $600,000 project.

FieldTurf Inc., a Wyckoff, N.J., affiliate of Montreal-based Groupe Fieldturf Tarkett Quebec, "states that Hackettstown gave Hellas and only Hellas the opportunity to enter into the lease-purchase agreement, to the exclusion of all other potential competitors," court documents say.

Superior Court Judge Amy O'Connor issued the order stopping work on the Chot Morrison Stadium project. She scheduled a hearing for 11 a.m. Sept. 25 in the Warren County Courthouse.

Hackettstown schools Superintendent Robert Gratz said today that work was on schedule to have the field ready Sept. 1.

"It is our understanding that this is a legal battle between competitors in the turf field industry," Gratz said. "It is the intention of Hackettstown Public Schools to continue to work in the best interest of our district and the community.

"And with all due respect, since this is now a legal issue ... it would be inappropriate for me to respond any further than that."

Hellas Construction brought a resume that included installing the false grass at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium and at a track at the New York Jets' practice facility in Florham, N.J.

FieldTurf says it has installed about 95 percent of artificial turf fields in New Jersey. More than 40 major NCAA universities use FieldTurf in their stadiums in addition to 21 of the National Football League's 32 teams using FieldTurf at their stadiums or practice complexes. Several Major League Baseball teams also use the product.

The lawsuit states Hackettstown based its lease-purchase agreement with Hellas Construction on the contractor's "supposed participation" in a national purchasing cooperative. The suit alleges New Jersey law prohibits boards of education from purchasing goods and services through such a cooperative.

A representative for Hellas Construction declined to comment on the case.